Lamp rotation socket

ABSTRACT

A lamp rotation socket useful in a luminaire comprising an array of standard sealed beam lamps, each of which has a filament orientation and reflector configuration that produces a generally oval field of illumination. A plurality of elongate housings are provided, each housing mounting a set or line of lamps. The housings are mounted in side-by-side relationship and are each individually angularly movable about their longitudinal axes to achieve a desired overlap or separation of illumination fields. By rotating the lamps in their individual sockets, different illumination effects can be achieved. The improvement resides in a vastly simplified socket and lamp mounting in which the socket, fixed to the housing, receives the lamp posts in both of the two alternate 90* lamp positions.

0 i United States Patent 1 [111 3,798,436

Gross Mar. 19, 1974 LAMP ROTATION SOCKET 75 Inventor: Harold Gross, Woodland Hills,

Calif. Attorney, Agent,.0r Firm-Flam & Flam [73] Assignee: (Rzil'iley-Colortran, lnc., Burbank, [57] ABSTRACT I A lamp rotation socket useful in a luminaire compris- Flled: June 1972 ing an array of standard sealed beam lamps, each of [21] APP] 2 3 04 which has a filament orientation and reflector configuration that produces a generally oval field of illumination. A plurality of elongate housings are provided, [52] US. Cl 240/3, 240/4l.6, 240/52 R each housing mounting a Set or line of lamps. The [51] lltl. Cl. F2lp 5/00 housings are mounted in Side by side relationship and [58] new 'i 240B 52 R; are each individually angularly movable about their 339/55 88 188 189 L longitudinal axes to achieve a desired overlap or sepa- I ration of illumination fields. By rotating the lamps in [56/] References C'led their individual sockets, different illumination effects UNITED. ATES PATENTS can be achieved. The improvement resides in a vastly 3,643,079 2/1972 Glicl man 240/3 simplified Socket and p mountingv in which the 2,647,204 7/1953 McDowell 240/4l.55 X socket, fixed to the housing, receives the lamp posts in 2,680,839 6/1954 Peters 339/189 L X both of the two alternate 90 lamp positions. 3,003,058 10/1961 Babcock 240/52 R X 3,633,024 1 H1972 Hankins 240/52 R 11 Clam, 6 Drawmg Flgures ill l 7 72 i mi e LAMP ROTATION SOCKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A lamp rotation socket useful in this invention relates to lighting equipment particularly suitable for the stage or stadium, or for motion picture or television photography. More particularly, this invention relates to a luminaire of the type described in US. Pat. No. 3,643,079, to Glickman, issued Feb. 15, I972. Such luminaire utilizes mass-produced high efficiency sealed beam lamps of the type used in automobiles. The oval field of illumination produced by these lamps is standared for the automotive industry. This seeming disadvantage for the stage lighting industry is turned into an advantage by providing a luminaire that allows 90 rotation of the individual lamps. By virtue of the versatile mounting, a highly efficient luminaire is provided.

In Glickman, the lamp socket is mounted upon the lamp posts; the lamp and the socket carried thereby are mounted with the lamp flange behind a circular opening in the housing. Two individual clamps cooperate with one of the three 120 spaced locating lugs on the back of the lamp to hold the lamps in one of the two 90 positions selected. This arrangement, while entirely saitisfactory, entails a rear opening of the housing and an unusual sequence of clamp operation and lamp rotation. The primary object of this invention is to provide a simplified socket and lamp mounting arrangement in which the lamp is easily accessible for angular adjustment at the front of the housing and in which no other manipulations, such as of individual lamp clamps; is required in order to establish the selected lamp mountmgs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to accomplish the foregoing objects, there is provided a socket structure mounted on bottom of a front opening housing, the socket structure having spring contact pads engaged by the ends of the lamp posts. The lamp in turn is pressed against the socket by an individual apertured lid or cover structure. The pads have a segmental or arcuate configuration bounded by stops that, .by cooperation with the lamp posts, determine alternate 90 positions of the lamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures. These drawings, unless otherwise indicated, are to scale.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a luminaire incorporating the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of another luminaire including similar lamp housings, but showing the individual lamps in a different orientation.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through one of the housings shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary-sectional view showing one of the sockets in plan and taken along a plane corresponding to line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through the socket and taken along a plane corresponding to line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the socket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The luminaire shown in FIG. 1 includes, in this instance, six individual lamps 10 mounted in two elongate housings 12. The lamps 10 are conventional sealed beam headlamps customarily used in the automotive industry.

Each of the housings as shown in FIG. 3 is generally trough-like and provides three frontal openings 14 for the corresponding lamps. Beneath each opening at the bottom of the housing 12 is a socket assembly 16 for providing electrical power to the lamp 10.

The socket structure 16, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, provides two elongated contact pads 18 and 20, re-

. spectively engageable by the two rearwardly projecting posts 22 and 24 of the sealed beam lamp. The contact pads 18 and 20 are mounted in a hollow ceramic or other suitable electrical installation capsule or case comprising a base 26 and a cap 28. The base 26 is square and wafer-like. Two comers provide holes 30 for mounting the case to the housing 12. The other two comers have recesses 32, in which terminal lugs 34 are fitted. The outer ends of the terminal lugs carry terminal screws 36 for connection to power supply leads 38. Short flexible leads 40 electrically connect the contact pads to the inner ends of the terminal lugs. The leads 38 preferably enter holes in the lugs and under surface of the pads to provide a good mechanical connection where the lead ends are either soldered or crimped to the lugs and pads.

The cap 28 fits over the base 26 in such manner as to expose the outer ends of the terminal lugs 34, while two mounting flanges 44 with apertures 46 overlie thev mounting corners of the base 26. Rivets 48 (FIG. 3) fasten the case parts 26 and 28 together and to the bottom of the luminaire housing 12. The cap 28 encloses the inner ends of the terminal lugs and leads 38.

As shown in FIG. 5, the contact pads 18 and 20'fit non-circular recesses 52 and 54 inside the top of the cap 42. Springs 56 engage base 26 and the under surfaces of the contact pads 18 and 20 yieldingly to seat the contact pads in their recesses 52 and 54. The bottom of the springs 56 fit circular recesses 58 that adjoin the terminal lug slots 32. Leads 40 are just long enough to allow slack in the seated postion of the pads.

The top of the cap 42 has generally arcuate openings 60 and 62 that expose major areas of the contact pads 18 and 20 whereby these areas of the pads may be engaged by the lamp posts 22 and 24. Asv the lamp posts so engage the pads 18 and 20, the pads move downwardly against the force of the springs 56. A contact pressure is thus developed to ensure suitable electrical interconnection.

Individual lids 64 (FIGS. 1 to 3) clamp the lamps 10 in place with the lamp contact posts 22 and 24 in engagement with the corresponding pads 18 and 20. Each lid is hinge-connected at the side of the corresponding housing opening 14, in this instance by suitable pianotype hinge 66. The lid has a circular opening 68 of a diameter to fit over the peripheral flange 70 of the lamp 10. In the closed position of the lid, the axial distance d between edges of the lid opening 68 and the exposed surface of the pads 18 and 20 is less than the distance e between the front surface of lamp flange and the ends of the posts 22 and 24. Accordingly, when the lid 64 is closed, the posts move the contact pads 18 and 20 inwardly. A contact pressure ensuring proper electrical conduction is thus developed. A suitable latch 72 releasably holds the lid in closed position. A rubber or other suitable ring or gasket 74 on the inside of the lid opening 68 develops a frictional restraint between the lamp and the lid 64 whereby angular movement of the lamp 10 is resisted.

The lamp 10 can be positioned in alternate positions as illustrated in FIG. 4 so that in one postion (full lines) the posts 22 and 24 are located at corresponding counterclockwise ends of the segmental opening 60 and 62 or in the other position (phantom lines) at the clockwise ends. The recesses 60 and 62 are so proportioned and positioned that the ends of the recesses 60 and 62 determine either a transverse orientation of the lamp filament relative to the housing (FIG. 1) as indicated by the axis x (FIGS. 1 and 4), or an inline position relative to the housing, as indicated by axis y (FIGS. 2 and 4). Thus, the counterclockwise ends of the recesses 60 and 62 are aligned transversely along axis x and the clockwise ends of the recesses 60 and 62 are aligned longitudinally along axis A desired illumination field is thus achieved. I

In order to adjust the lamp, the lid 64 may first be opened to release the frictional restraint permitting the lamp to be rotated. Altemately, a slight pressure may be exerted on the face of the lamp with the lid closed such that the flange 70 is freed from the frictional restraint of the ring 74, the pads being urged further inwardly. Of course, the lid must be opened for replacementof a burned-out lamp filament.

The housings 12 in the example of FIG. 1 are mounted vertically in a side-by-side relationship within a frame 80. The frame in turn is mounted by a yoke 82. The frame 80 is angularly movable about a horizontal axis as determined by yoke clamps 84 and as more particularly described in said Glickman patent. The angular position of each of the housings 12 within the frame 80 is determined by clamps 86. The frame 80 together with the two housings 12 may be mounted in a different yoke structure 90 as shown in FIG. 2 whereby the housings extend generally horizontally rather than vertically. In any event, the filaments of the lamp can be oriented in any manner desiredby the lighting engineer.

Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown or described, I make the following claims:

1. In a luminaire for stage or stadium lighting or the like, comprising in combination:

a lamp housing having a bottom and a frontal opena plurality of sockets attached to the bottom of the housing, each socket having a cover with two arcuate openings facing said frontal opening and having a pair of electrical contacts behind said arcuate openings; said contact being designed to be engaged by the pair of rearwardly projecting prongs of a standared sealed beam lamp;

means within said cover yieldingly urging said contacts toward said frontal opening;

releasable clamp means located at the opening and having parts engageable with said lamp for holding LII said lamp at said opening with the pair of prongs respectively engaging said pair of contacts and against the force of said yieldingly urging means; said pair of contacts having an area adequate to allow the corresponding lamp to be moved angularly to shift the transverse alignment of the lamp filament at least about while still maintaining electrical connection with said contacts, the ends of said arcuate openings forming stops engageable with said lamp prongs to determine alternate limits of angular movement of said lamp.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said opening comprises a plurality of circular parts aligned with the corresponding sockets; said clamp means comprising individual lids hingedly mounted at the circular parts to engage frontally the peripheral flange of the sealed beam lamp, said clamp means holding respective sealed beam lamps in place relative to their corresponding sockets with a contact pressure between said contacts and said lamp prongs whereby, upon release of said clamp means or upon inward movement of said lamp with the clamp means operative, the lamp is freed for angular movement about its beam axis for alternate positioning of the transverse filament axis and corresponding orientation of the oval illumination field produced thereby.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which each socket includes:

a hollow case having a base part with said cover detachably mounted thereon;

' said cover having a pair of non-circular recesses inside the top thereof, said arcuate openings being at the top of the cover to expose the recesses;

each of said pair of contacts respectively fitting said recesses, the arcuate openings at the top of the cover exposing parts of the contacts;

a pair of terminal bars clamped between the base and the cover to expose the terminal bars both inside and outside the hollow case;

a pair of flexible electrical leads connecting the contacts to the terminal bars respectively;

and wherein said yielding means comprises a pair of spring elements with the hollow case.

4. A luminaire for stage or stadium lighting or the like, comprising;

a lamp housing having an opening;

a lamp socket in the housing, said lamp socket in- V cluding:

a hollow case having a base part and a cover part detachably mounted thereon;

said case having a pair of non-circular recesses inside the top of the cover part, there being openings at the top of the cover part to expose the recesses;

a pair of contacts having pad areas facing said housing opening, and means yieldingly urging said contacts outwardly toward said housing opening; each of said pair of contacts respectively fitting said recesss, the openings at the top of the cover part exposing said pad areas of said contacts; said contacts being engageable by the rearwardly projecting prongs of a sealed beam lamp, said pad areas being of such size and proportion as to allow at least about 90 of angular movement of said sealed beam lamp about its beam axis while its prongs remain in engagement with said pad areas; the ends of said openings in the top of said cover part forming stops engageable with said lamp prongs to determine alternate limits of angular movement of said lamp; and

a releasable clamp means for holding a sealed beam lamp in place with a contact pressure between said contacts and said lamp prongs whereby, upon release of said clamp or inward movement of said lamp with the clamp operative, the lamp is freed for angular movement about its beam axis for alternate positioning of the transverse filament axis and corresponding orientation of the oval illumination field produced thereby. v

S. The luminaire as set forth in claim 4 in which said releasable clamp comprises a hingedly mounted lid for said housing opening, said lid itself having an opening behind which the flange of said sealed beam lamp fits.

6. The luminaire as set forth in claim 9 in which said releasable clamp comprises a hingedly mounted lid for said housing opening, said lid itself having an opening behind which the flange of said sealed beam lamp fits, there being a friction ring carried by the lid at said lid opening for restraining angular movement of said lamp.

7. The luminaire as set forth in claim 4 in which said lamp socket includes:

a pair of terminal bars clamped between the base and cover part to expose the terminal bars both inside and outside the hollow case; I

a pair of flexible electrical leads connecting the contacts to the terminal bars respectively;

and wherein said yielding means comprises a pair of spring elements within the hollow case.

8. In a luminaire for stage or stadium lighting or the like, comprising in combination:

an elongate lamp'housing having a frontal opening;

a plurality of lamp sockets in the housing, said lamp sockets each having a pair of contacts having pad areas facing the housing opening, and having means yieldingly urging said contacts outwardly toward said housing opening; said contacts being engageable by the rearwardly projecting prongs of a sealed beam lamp; said pad areas being of such size and proportion as to allow at least about 90 of angular movement of the corresponding sealed beam lamp about its beam axis while its prongs remain in engagement with said pad areas;

releasable clamps for holding respective sealed beam lamps in place relative to their corresponding sockets with a contact pressure between said contacts and said lamp prongs whereby, upon release of said clamp or upon inward movement of said lamp with the clamp operative, the lamp is freed for angular movement about its beam axis for alternate positioning of the transverse filament axis and corresponding orientation of the oval illumination field produced thereby, and in which each lamp socket includes; a hollow case having a base part and a cover part detachably mounted thereon; said case having a pair of non-circular recesses inside the top of the cover part, there being openings at the top of the cover part to expose the recesses; each of said pair of contacts respectively fitting said recesses, the openings at the top of the cover part exposing said pad areas of said contacts; the ends of said openings in the top of said cover part forming stops engageable with said lamp prongs to determine alternate limits of angular movement of said lamp.

9. The luminaire as set forth in claim 8 in which each of said releasable clamps comrises a hingedly mounted lid for said housing opening, said lid itself having an opening behind which the flange of said sealed beam lamp fits.

10. The luminaire as set forth in claim 8 in which each of said releasable clamps comprises a hingedly mounted lid for said housing opening, said lid itself having an opening behind which the flang of said sealed beam lamp fits, there being a friction ring carried by the lid at said lid opening for restraining angular movement of said lamp.

111. The luminaire as set forth in claim 8 in which each of said lamp sockets further includes:

a pair of terminal bars clamped between the base and cover parts to expose the terminal bars both inside and outside the hollow case;

a pair of flexible electrical leads connecting the contacts to the terminal bars respectively;

and wherein said yielding means comprises a pair of spring elements within the hollow case. 

1. In a luminaire for stage or stadium lighting or the like, comprising in combination: a lamp housing having a bottom and a frontal opening; a plurality of sockets attached to the bottom of the housing, each socket having a cover with two arcuate openings facing said frontal opening and having a pair of electrical contacts behind said arcuate openings; said contact being designed to be engaged by the pair of rearwardly projecting prongs of a standared sealed beam lamp; means within said cover yieldingly urging said contacts toward said frontal opening; releasable clamp means located at the opening and having parts engageable with said lamp for holding said lamp at said opening with the pair of prongs respectively engaging said pair of contacts and against the force of said yieldingly urging means; said pair of contacts having an area adequate to allow the corresponding lamp to be moved angularly to shift the transverse alignment of the lamp filament at least about 90* while still maintaining electrical connection with said contacts, the ends of said arcuate openings forming stops engageable with said lamp prongs to determine alternate limits of angular movement of said lamp.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said opening comprises a plurality of circular parts aligned with the corresponding sockets; said clamp means comprising individual lids hingedly mounted at the circular parts to engage frontally the peripheral flange of the sealed beam lamp, said clamp means holding respective sealed beam lamps in place relative to their corresponding sockets with a contact pressure between said contacts and said lamp prongs whereby, upon release of said clamp means or upon inward movement of said lamp with the clamp means operative, the lamp is freed for angular movement about its beam axis for alternate positioning of the transverse filament axis and corresponding orientation of the oval illumination field produced thereby.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which each socket includes: a hollow case having a base part with said cover detachably mounted thereon; said cover having a pair of non-circular recesses inside the top thereof, said arcuate openings being at the top of the cover to expose the recesses; each of said pair of contacts respectively fitting said recesses, the arcuate openings at the top of the cover exposing parts of the contacts; a pair of terminal bars clamped between the base and the cover to expose the terminal bars both inside and outside the hollow case; a pair of flexible electrical leads connecting the contacts to the terminal bars respectively; and wherein said yielding means comprises a pair of spring elements with the hollow case.
 4. A luminaire for stage or stadium lighting or the like, comprising; a lamp housing having an opening; a lamp socket in the housing, said lamp socket including: a hollow case having a base part and a cover part detachably mounted thereon; said case having a pair of non-circular recesses inside the top of the cover part, there being openings at the top of the cover part to expose the recesses; a pair of contacts having pad areas facing said housing opening, and means yieldingly urging said contacts outwardly toward said housing opening; each of said pair of contacts respectively fitting said recesss, the openings at the top of the cover part exposing said pad areas of said contacts; said contacts being engageable by the rearwardly projecting prongs of a sealed beam lamp, said pad areas being of such size and proportion as to allow at least about 90* of angular movement of said sealed beam lamp about its beam axis while its prongs remain in engagement with said pad areas; the ends of said openings in the top of said cover part forming stops engageable with said lamp prongs to determine alternate limits of angular movement of said lamp; and a releasable clamp means for holding a sealed beam lamp in place with a contact pressure between said contacts and said lamp prongs whereby, upon release of said clamp or inward movement of said lamp with the clamp operative, the lamp is freed for angular movement about its beam axis for alternate positioning of the transverse filament axis and corresponding orientation of the oval illumination field produced thereby.
 5. The luminaire as set forth in claim 4 in which said releasable clamp comprises a hingedly mounted lid for said housing opening, said lid itself having an opening behind which the flange of said sealed beam lamp fits.
 6. The luminaire as set forth in claim 9 in which said releasable clamp comprises a hingedly mounted lid for said housing opening, said lid itself having an opening behind which the flange of said sealed beam lamp fits, there being a friction ring carried by the lid at said lid opening for restraining angular movement of said lamp.
 7. The luminaire as set forth in claim 4 in which said lamp socket includes: a pair of terminal bars clamped between the base and cover part to expose the terminal bars both inside and outside the hollow case; a pair of flexible electrical leads connecting the contacts to the terminal bars respectively; and wherein said yielding means comprises a pair of spring elements within the hoLlow case.
 8. In a luminaire for stage or stadium lighting or the like, comprising in combination: an elongate lamp housing having a frontal opening; a plurality of lamp sockets in the housing, said lamp sockets each having a pair of contacts having pad areas facing the housing opening, and having means yieldingly urging said contacts outwardly toward said housing opening; said contacts being engageable by the rearwardly projecting prongs of a sealed beam lamp; said pad areas being of such size and proportion as to allow at least about 90* of angular movement of the corresponding sealed beam lamp about its beam axis while its prongs remain in engagement with said pad areas; releasable clamps for holding respective sealed beam lamps in place relative to their corresponding sockets with a contact pressure between said contacts and said lamp prongs whereby, upon release of said clamp or upon inward movement of said lamp with the clamp operative, the lamp is freed for angular movement about its beam axis for alternate positioning of the transverse filament axis and corresponding orientation of the oval illumination field produced thereby, and in which each lamp socket includes; a hollow case having a base part and a cover part detachably mounted thereon; said case having a pair of non-circular recesses inside the top of the cover part, there being openings at the top of the cover part to expose the recesses; each of said pair of contacts respectively fitting said recesses, the openings at the top of the cover part exposing said pad areas of said contacts; the ends of said openings in the top of said cover part forming stops engageable with said lamp prongs to determine alternate limits of angular movement of said lamp.
 9. The luminaire as set forth in claim 8 in which each of said releasable clamps comrises a hingedly mounted lid for said housing opening, said lid itself having an opening behind which the flange of said sealed beam lamp fits.
 10. The luminaire as set forth in claim 8 in which each of said releasable clamps comprises a hingedly mounted lid for said housing opening, said lid itself having an opening behind which the flang of said sealed beam lamp fits, there being a friction ring carried by the lid at said lid opening for restraining angular movement of said lamp.
 11. The luminaire as set forth in claim 8 in which each of said lamp sockets further includes: a pair of terminal bars clamped between the base and cover parts to expose the terminal bars both inside and outside the hollow case; a pair of flexible electrical leads connecting the contacts to the terminal bars respectively; and wherein said yielding means comprises a pair of spring elements within the hollow case. 